You want us to drop everything and run to City X? Just because you say it's safer? Are you hiding something from me?
Kael looked up at her, brows furrowed so tight they formed a deep crease. Confusion mixed with irritation in his eyes—damn, why was she being so cryptic?
Elara pressed her lips together, her voice cold and firm.
"It'll be safer there than here."
She saw the disbelief on Kael's face, a flicker of helplessness crossing her features.
She couldn't tell him the truth.
Couldn't say she knew a powerful Superpower user would set up a small Safe Zone there.
How would she explain knowing that?
Her rebirth was a secret she couldn't risk—not even for him.
"You don't believe me?" Elara couldn't find the right words. She steeled herself, staring at him sharply.
Kael was stunned.
This fiery, confrontational side of her—so different from the cold, distant girl who couldn't stand to look at him, let alone argue.
A wild thought surged in his mind: whatever Elara said, whatever she wanted—he'd agree.
She was right. Always right.
She was right. Always right.
"No! Never!" Kael shook his head so hard his neck ached, voice urgent and rough. "We'll go wherever you say—City X, hell, even the ends of the earth. Just name it."
Elara froze. She hadn't expected him to agree without a single question.
A faint blush crept up her cheeks.
She snorted awkwardly, hiding her fluster behind a cold facade.
"I'll book plane tickets for tomorrow morning."
"I'll tell Mom and Dad we're going on a trip—City X is an ancient capital, after all. They'll buy it."
Kael thought for a moment, hesitating before speaking tentatively.
"Uh… I still got loose ends to tie up. The car mods aren't finished yet."
"And I gotta take care of my brothers. What if… you and Mom and Dad head out tomorrow? I'll catch up the day after—promise."
Elara frowned. Tomorrow was the 11th, the day after tomorrow the 12th.
A flight to City X only took half a day. It should be in time.
She nodded.
"Hurry up and finish your work. If your confidants and subordinates are willing to come, you can take them."
"But remember—one more person means one more damn danger. You know that better than anyone."
"Don't worry. I'll haul ass over as soon as possible." Kael let out a sigh of relief, a grin tugging at his lips—thank gods she wasn't mad.
"I have a subordinate, Jax Stark, on vacation in City X right now."
"I'll let him pick you up."
He paused, adding reassuringly, "And the supplies? Don't worry about them."
"I'll arrange to ship everything in batches tomorrow."
Elara's brows furrowed again, doubt clouding her face.
"I'm not sure that's going to work. What about the guns and ammo?"
"Leave it to me. I'll handle it—no one's gonna stop me." Kael patted his chest proudly, tone brash and confident.
Elara looked at him.
His eyes were burning, bright and eager—like a puppy waiting for praise.
She rolled her eyes secretly, turning to head upstairs.
"Fine. I'm going back to sleep."
"Oh…" Kael let out a dejected sigh, deflating like a punctured balloon. Shit, he'd hoped she'd stay a little longer.
Elara felt his intense stare on her back.
Her cheeks heated up.
Elara felt his intense stare on her back. Her cheeks heated up.
She wanted to say something nice, to thank him—but the words stuck in her throat.
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
She hurried into her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
She pressed a hand to her racing heart, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
She pressed a hand to her racing heart, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
Early the next morning, Elara told her parents about the trip to City X.
To her surprise, they agreed happily—relieved to see their daughter finally willing to spend time with Kael, even if it was just a trip.
She booked the tickets—a flight departing at 11 AM.
Mom packed their luggage, and at 10 AM, the three of them took a taxi to the airport.
Kael had left early in the morning. Elara hadn't asked him to see them off.
She sent him a text message before boarding: "We're on the plane. Arriving in City X around 3 PM."
The plane landed at City X Airport promptly at 3 PM.
Elara turned on her phone as soon as she got off the plane.
A message from Kael popped up: "Jax Stark, my subordinate, is waiting for you at the exit."
Jax was in his twenties, quiet and reserved. He didn't speak much on the way.
He politely drove Elara and her parents to the Champs-Élysées five-star hotel.
Settled them in, then left without a word.
Kael had booked the rooms the night before: one for her parents, one for her.
The three of them planned to rest well and go sightseeing the next day.
The three of them planned to rest well and go sightseeing the next day.
Elara went back to her room, took a shower, and lay down on the bed.
She thought about their next steps, her eyes growing heavy.
She thought about their next steps, her eyes growing heavy. She drifted off to sleep.
Not long after, she jolted awake, screaming, sweat soaking her clothes.
Horrible images flashed in her mind—Kael, covered in blood, lifeless.
She got out of bed, walking to the window, and frowned at the starry night sky.
She got out of bed, walking to the window, and frowned at the starry night sky.
Why this dream? Why now?
In the dream, on the eve of the apocalypse, Kael had never arrived in City X.
He'd gone missing.
She'd driven back home with her parents, using her Superpower to fight through Mutated Beasts.
And there, on a street littered with corpses, she'd found him.
And there, on a street littered with corpses, she'd found him.
He was lying on the ground, his blood pooling around him. Mutated cats and dogs surrounded him—some feasting on his body.
Elara closed her eyes, her face pale.
She took a shaky breath, pulling out her phone.
Elara closed her eyes, her face pale. She took a shaky breath, pulling out her phone.
She dialed Kael's number.
It rang and rang. No answer. Shit.
Elara's heart clenched. She hung up and dialed again.
Still no answer. Panic coiled in her stomach—cold, sharp.
Her mind went blank.
She looked up at the sky—a meteor streaked across, leaving a red trail.
Her pupils contracted.
She stared at the trail, terror creeping up her spine.
She checked the time: 6 PM.
Without hesitation, she changed into casual, practical clothes and knocked on her parents' door.
She didn't mention Kael, didn't mention the dream.
She just said, "I forgot something important at home. I need to go back. I'll come back with Kael."
"Stay in the hotel, don't go out."
"If anything happens, lock the door and don't open it for anyone."
"If anything happens, lock the door and don't open it for anyone."
Her parents were confused, but they didn't argue.
They agreed to stay in the hotel until she and Kael returned.
Elara went down to the hotel lobby, ordered a large amount of food and drinks.
Asked the staff to send them to her parents' room.
She then went to a nearby supermarket, buying stacks of easy-to-store snacks: biscuits, instant noodles, ham.
She left her parents' room number with the supermarket staff and rushed straight to the airport.
She left her parents' room number with the supermarket staff and rushed straight to the airport.
The only available flight was at midnight.
Elara sat in the waiting area, dialing Kael's number repeatedly.
Still no answer.
She tried to calm herself, forcing the terrible dream out of her mind.
Maybe he didn't hear the phone. Maybe he'd lost it. Maybe the battery died.
Anything but the dream.
At 4:30 AM, Elara got off the plane and took a taxi straight home.
She unlocked the door, turning on every light in the house.
She searched every room—bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen—nothing.
She searched every room—bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen—nothing.
She collapsed onto the sofa, her face ashen.
Kael wasn't there.
Her eyes fell on the electronic calendar: 6 AM, the 12th.
She dialed Kael's number again.
This time, a cold voice announced: "The number you are calling is powered off." Gods damn it.
Panic surged in Elara's chest.
Her cold fingers trembled as she flipped through her phone book, looking for anyone related to Kael.
She flipped through it again and again, her heart sinking.
She didn't know a single person in his life.
Not one.
Of course she didn't.
She'd hated him so much, she'd never bothered to learn anything about him.
She didn't know his company's name, didn't know where it was located.
Wait. His company.
Elara's eyes lit up. She quickly dialed her father's phone.
She lied, "Dad, Kael left some important documents at home. I need to take them to his company."
"Can you tell me the address?"
Her father gave her the address without hesitation.
Elara hung up, ran out of the house, and hailed a taxi to Kael's company.
She rushed out of the elevator, so frantic she didn't notice she'd bumped into someone.
She rushed out of the elevator, so frantic she didn't notice she'd bumped into someone.
A coquettish woman cursed, "Watch where you're going, bitch!" but Elara didn't look back—didn't care.
Only one thought filled her mind: find Kael.
She found Kael's company and pushed the door open.
The office was empty.
It was only 7 AM—too early for work.
Elara's throat tightened.
She leaned against the door weakly, her eyes empty as she stared at the empty room.
"Miss Voss?"
A voice pulled her out of her daze.
Elara looked up.
A young man in his twenties stood in front of her, his face familiar.
Reno had come to the company early to deal with the backlog of work over the past few days.
He'd been surprised to hear the door open—who'd come so early?
He'd stepped out to check.
His face had paled when he saw Elara, looking lost and desperate.
He'd stepped out to check, and his face had paled when he saw Elara, looking lost and desperate.
"You're…?" Elara's voice trembled, a spark of hope igniting in her chest.
"I'm Reno Stark, Mr. Voss's deputy." Reno nodded politely.
His mind raced—what was she doing here?
"Are you here to see Mr. Voss?"
Reno knew all about the tension between Elara and Kael.
He knew she hated Kael with a passion.
If she was here for him, it couldn't be good. Probably to yell at him, or worse. But it wasn't his place to interfere. He'd learned over the years: no matter how badly Elara tore into Kael, Kael would take it—gladly, even.
"Yes. Where the hell is Kael? Is he here?" Elara's voice trembled, urgent and worn thin.
The name Reno Stark jogged her memory.
In her past life, Reno had stayed by Kael's side after the apocalypse.
He'd never awakened a Superpower, but he was clever and smooth-tongued—knew how to talk his way out of any mess.
He was Kael's oldest subordinate, trusted completely—even as an ordinary person.
And his death… it had been her fault.
She'd thrown a fit, demanding new clothes.
Their team had walked into a Mutated Beast ambush because of her.
Several people had died.
Several people had died. She'd been protected at the back, watching as a Mutated Ox trampled Reno into a pulp. The memory still made her stomach churn.
"Mr. Voss hasn't been to the company in days." Reno hesitated.
He noticed Elara's pale, haggard face, and forced a smile, telling the truth.
He forced a smile, telling the truth. "Haven't seen him since the night of the 10th."
Elara's heart plummeted to the floor. Her lips were pale and chapped.
"Do you know where he went? His phone's off. I have to find him—now."
"I… I don't know where he is right now." Reno frowned, feeling uneasy.
"But I can take you to his usual haunts. Maybe we can find him there."
"But I can take you to his usual haunts. Maybe we can find him there."
Elara nodded, her voice weary.
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
"No trouble at all, Miss Voss." Reno waved his hand hastily, his tone obsequious.
He muttered to himself as he turned to get his keys: Since when did she get so polite? Shit, must be real urgent.
Reno drove. Elara sat in the passenger seat, silent, her mind racing.
They went to Kael's usual spots first—a bar, a garage, a private club.
They went to Kael's usual spots first—a bar, a garage, a private club.
The owners all said the same thing: Kael had been there once on the night of the 10th. He hadn't come back since.
Next Chapter Highlight:
Desperation mounts as Elara and Reno hunt for Kael—every dead end pushes her closer to the edge of panic! They trace Kael to his secret armory: the abandoned food processing plant. Inside, chaos awaits—blood splatters the walls, broken weapons litter the floor, and a glowing Beast Core fragment confirms the unthinkable: the apocalypse has started EARLY! Just as Elara's worst fears seem realized, Kael's voice crackles over a walkie-talkie: he's trapped in the plant's basement, surrounded by ravenous Mutated Beasts! Elara can't hold back—she summons her Mutated Gold Sword, charging in to save him, exposing her Superpower to Reno in the process. But far away in City X, her parents' hotel is under siege by Mutated Beasts, the streets running red with blood. Will Elara and Kael fight their way out of the armory in time to rescue her parents? And Reno—now that he's witnessed Superpowers and the horror of the apocalypse, will he stand with them… or turn on them to save his own skin? Plus, Kael's missing car is found abandoned on the highway—with a cryptic message scrawled in blood. Who's behind the ambush? And can Elara trust Reno, the man she once got killed?